Sun, Sand and Salt Water
Can salt water heal us? Read on to find out: In the winter of 1995, when I was fourteen, my extended family of thirty people — cousins and friends — went on a vacation, a road trip to Goa. As one can imagine, the gang of parents and children was a place to party. The music on the loudspeakers blasted old songs and, like a jukebox, played peoples’ favourite music. We played antakshari and cards, danced and sang. The place is filled with laughter and fun. Yet, I don’t remember most of that. However, I remember this boy, whose name I didn’t know, accompanying us on our journey in the minivan. He was my mother’s friend’s son. He was tall at five feet six, lean built, with thick, black, curly hair. He spoke with a good command of the language. I tried to look pretty and cute, talk intelligently and appear smart. He was polite to the elders and friendly to the younger ones, such as me. He had a great sense of humour, and I was utterly smitten. I could think of doing nothing else but imp...